Can one start the FLGS?

Sea Wasp <seawaspObvious.DeleteThis@sgeObviousinc.com> wrote in
news:47D6734E.9040809@sgeObviousinc.com:

> Terry Austin wrote:
>> BP <reply.DeleteThis@newsgroup.please> wrote in
>> news:rhhbt3pa7k5thorruqi4co009uskt0gfra@4ax.com:
>>
>>
>>>On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:15:19 GMT, Gutless Umbrella Carrying
>>>Sissy <taustinca.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Gaming, comics and strippers?
>>>
>>>
>>>Hmm. I personally would probably visit that FLGS quite often,
>>>but I don't think I'd let my two teenage sons go there, at
>>>least not for a few more years...
>>>
>>
>> Yeah, but you wouldn't want to deny them their hobby, so you'd
>> have to do their shopping for them.
>>
>
> Gives a new meaning to "keeping abreast of new developments
> in the
> gaming world".
>
Indeed. A brand new meaning, that has never before been used in
reference to gaming or gamers. Seriously.

--
Terry Austin

"There's no law west of the internet."
- Nick Stump

Jesus forgives sinners, not criminals.

tussock <scrub.DeleteThis@clear.net.nz> wrote in news:47d66fe5@clear.net.nz:
>
>>> One of the biggest problems with owning a game store is that
>>> if you are going to have in-store gaming, you have to dedicate
>>> a chank of floorspace that doesn't actually generate much, if
>>> any money. Your best bet is to consider the rent on that part
>>> of your space to come from your advertising budget.
>>>
>> I've seen in-store gaming areas put one game store out of
>> business, and seriously damage another. Retail space is among
>> the most expensive of all real estate, and you just can't
>> afford to let it not generate income.
>
> I always figured gaming space should be run as its own
> business,
> upstairs from the game shop if you've got an upstairs.

The game store that went under (after a lot of successful years)
did that, in the space next door. Not only did it lose money, it
lost so much it sucked the parent business under. Gaming space just
doesn't make enough money to pay retail rents.
>
> Do it well and charge by the hour, booked and paid a week in
> advance
> at minimum. Sectioned off with some basic soundproofing, tables
> for easy cleaning and solid enough not to knock down minis and
> spill drinks when they're bumped, seats that won't kill your ass
> for six or seven hours. Good ventilation and temperature control
> for the inevitable sweathogs. Did I mention easy cleaning? Power
> and connectivity for a great many laptops, enough footspace for
> folk to pace about.

The problem is, you can't make enough people happy when they're
paying money to game. Either you "encourage" gamemasters to not
make it too tough, and avoid killing characters, and you lose have
your clientele because it's too easy, or you don't, and you get
screaming complaints about dead characters. Either way, you lose
half your customers.
>
> Coke machine, junkfood. Preferably near a (less greasy)
> takeaway food
> joint, do some joint marketing and coupon tricks with them,
> maybe organise free delivery if near a pizza place or something.
> No booze.
>
> Then give up on the gamers and rent it to the local phone
> spammers or
> gold farmers instead. I mean, market research company.
>
Which is to say, if you have an open spot in the sales floor
somwhere that you can set up a table for demo games, that's fine,
but don't do anything that costs you money to provide gaming space.
That's what the clubs at the local colleges are for.

--
Terry Austin

"There's no law west of the internet."
- Nick Stump

Jesus forgives sinners, not criminals.